Search Results for: blog no vacation but a different view of marriage and life

Handling Miscarriage and Loss

A local woman here in Australia, who suffered Neonatal Loss of her twin boys a couple of years ago, has come up with a novel idea for those who suffer a miscarriage. Erin Hartigan was 24 weeks pregnant when her her two boys were born prematurely. They only lived a short time. As a result of the pain and loss she suffered, she wanted to try and do something to help other mothers who had undergone a miscarriage or a similar experience of loss. This year on January 2 she had a dream about making a box to put all … Continue reading →

We’re Broke! Why Do We Need a Financial Planner?! Part 1

After my divorce, the financial planner who had worked with my former husband and I continued to call me every six months or so, wondering if I was ready to put a new financial plan into place. I was flattered, if a little confused, about why he was bothering with me. I had primary physical custody of our infant daughter, I was receiving no financial support from her dad, and I was working for a notoriously underpaying local non-profit. Let’s face it, I was broke. The answer to the question, of course, is that it is an undisputed fact that … Continue reading →

My Decision To Stay Home

When people hear that I quit my teaching job to be at home full-time with my daughter, they often respond, “You are so lucky that you can afford to do that.” I indeed feel very lucky. I know I’m blessed, and I’m thankful for it. Contrary to what people might think, however, I don’t stay home because we have piles of money just sitting around. I don’t live in a situation where we have so much money that I decided I might as well not work. In fact, my husband is a full-time student. Not only do we not have … Continue reading →

The Influence of Music

Have you ever noticed the power of music to influence your moods, attitudes and actions? It’s no wonder experts have discovered music therapy. Last week at church we sang two songs. One was, ‘To live is Christ.’ That song has encouraged me and challenged me throughout this week to look at how I respond to what is happening in my life. Am I responding as Jesus would? Am I showing Christ to the world in the way I speak, the things I say and do? ‘No matter what price I pay, I choose to give this life away.’ Notice it’s … Continue reading →

No Vacation, but a Different View of Marriage and Life.

Not many people will give up their vacation time to help others. Helping needy people is not every couple’s idea of the ideal way to spend three weeks. But it was for Carmen and Glen Ryan couple who spent three weeks aboard Africa Mercy, the world’s largest hospital ship., Carmen has a nursing background while Glen is involved in with computers and information technology. Both of them wanted to use their skills to help others less fortunate, so they ended up on the Africa Mercy ship in Liberia. The Ryans say that working aboard such a ship providing medical aid … Continue reading →

Author Interview — Anderson, Littke and Morris: Part Two

I’m very pleased to bring you part two of our exclusive interview with LDS authors Nancy Anderson, Lael J. Littke and Carroll H. Morris. If you missed yesterday, click here to catch up. I haven’t yet had the privilege of reading your series, although it’s on my wish list. Can you tell me, and our readers, about it? Lael: “Almost Sisters” is the first book of the series. In it, three very different women — Juneau from Pasadena, CA, Willadene from Wellsville, UT, and Erin from Minneapolis, MN — meet at BYU Education Week in 1980— Nancy: That might sound … Continue reading →

Fast Start: Hurrying Up While Waiting

You’ve probably heard international adoption called a “hurry-up and wait” game. Meaning, that you are often in a mad hurry to fulfill every request for a document or signature, lest you miss the monthly meeting of the Romanian adoption committee by one day, or your social worker doesn’t get a chance to fax her counterpart before her vacation, or whatever, and you miss another precious month of your child’s infancy. Then, you don’t hear back from anyone for weeks. Sometimes slow and steady is okay. You focus on your work, or your other kids, or whatever, sending out questionnaires to … Continue reading →